allison



Patented May 9, I899. A. B. ALLISON. T0 BACGU LEAF STEMMING MACHINE. (Application filed Jami. 23, 1899.) (No Model.)

THE cams PETERS 00.. PKOTOJ-JTHO WASNINGTON. o. c.

No. 624,440. Patented May 9. I899.

A. R. ALLISON. TOBACCO LEAF STEMMING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 23, 1899.,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shut 2.

llllllllll WITNESSES flEJZ Z Ziswz A 770/?NE rs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ALPHONSO ROSS ALLISON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIVERSAL STRIPPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TOBACCO-LEAF- -STEMMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 624,440, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed January 23, 1899. Serial No. 703,120. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, ALPHONSO Ross ALLI- SON, residing at Richmond, in the countyof Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Leaf-Stem-ming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improved feed mechanism for delivering the leaf to the stripping or wiping devices as it leaves the hand of the operator; and it more particularly refers to a means especially adapted for use in combination with a particular construction of rotary leaf-carrier which forms the subject-matter of my sole application, filed March 25, 1898, Serial No. 675,119, and which also forms in its more specific nature a part of the joint application filed by O. E. Buck and myself August 30, 1898, Serial No. (589,856, my present leaf-feeding means being also disclosed in a copending joint application filed on even date with this application, Serial No. 703,119, by Charles E. Buck and myself.

The purpose of my present invention is to provide an improved feed mechanism whereby the capacity of the machine of which it forms a part is materially increased and the output of the machine limited only by the ability of the operator, who supplies the leaf to the feeding mechanism by hand operation.

In the machines disclosed in the other applications, Serial Nos. 675,119 and 689,856, re-

ferred to, an intermittent-feed mechanism is employed which is arranged to feed at predetermined intervals to arotary carrierhavinga series of eqnispaced clamp devices for engaging the leaf-stem at said predetermined intervals. While such form of feed and carrier mechanism effects a perfect feed and delivery of the leaves to the wipers, yet it does not accomplish all the results desired. Amuch better machine results when the construction of the rotary carrier is such that by simply'increasing the number of the clamping-su rfaces, so as to make them contin uous, a m uch greater number of leaves can be drawn through the wipers at each revolution of the carrier with increased rapidity, a result found impossible to obtain by an intermittently-operatin g feed mechanism.

The essential feature of my present invention therefore lies in providing a feed mechanism capable of feeding the leaves continuously to the rotary carrier, or, in other words,

as fast as the operator can supply the said feed mechanism by hand-delivery, and such invention in its general character comprises an endless-belt feed which travels-relatively to the rotary character (which in this presentinvention has acontinuous gripping or clamping surface) in such manner that it will take up the leaves as fast as they are moved in the path of the clamping-surfaces.

My invention, further, seeks to provide a feed mechanism of such character and so arranged as to greatly facilitate the delivery of the leaves to the rotary carrier, whereby the stemming operation of the machine is increased to a maximum capacity and limited only to the speed at which the most expert operator can supply the leaves thereto.

This invention also comprehends certain new details of construction which seek to in crease the capacity of the machine and ren der its manufacture the moreeconomical and its utility of greater commercial value.

The invention therefore consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts herein described, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of so much of the machine of which my improvements form a part as is necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, taken from the opposite or feeder side. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3 3 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 l indicate the wiper or stripper belts and 2 the rotary carrier, which have the same general arrangement and operate precisely similar to the like parts in the other application referred to. The rotary carrier in the present case has a continuation of annularly-arranged clamps 3, equivalent to hinged members, and having roller-bearings 3 at their inner extremities which are adapted to successively engage the cam-flange 4, that serves to hold the clamps to their relative clamping position, and the int-hrow plate 5, with which the bearings 3 at the proper time engage and by which the clamps are held to their open position. 1

The object in constructing the'rotary carrier with a rim having a continuous series of clamps is to provide for clamping the leafbutts with certainty, no matter whether they are fed slowly, swiftly, or irregularly.

My improved feed mechanism comprises "a pair of endless belts S and 9, which are so mounted, driven, and held in such relation to each other that portions thereof will act. as opposing or compressing coacting surfaces, which surfaces are held in frictional contact to close on the leaf-stem butt and convey it to the rotary carrier. To facilitate such operation and admit of a portion of the coacting surfaces of the belts 8 and 9traveling close to the open portion or spaces of the totary carrier, said belts are made to travel in the plane of the rotary movement of the carrier, and for such purpose a su pportingfraine 10 is provided, on which is mounted a bed or table 12 of suitable height, disposed at the feed or entrant end of the rotary carrier and projected forward thereof a suitable distance,

as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In practice the portion 12 of the table 12 forms a support for the bundles of tobacco as they are untied by the helper and placed in convenient reach of the operator.

To provide fora quick and convenient delivery of the tobacco, thefeeding-belts have their entrant portion disposed in a horizontal plane of convenient height, and such portion of the belts is arranged in the manner best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, by reference to which it will be seen the front guide-pulley 13 for the belt 8 is in a plane slightly below the front pulley 14 of the belt 9 and disposed a short distance in advance of the said pulley let, whereby a rest portion 15 is provided, on which the operator places and guides the butt-ends of the leaf-stems into the entrant end of the coacting or gripping portions of the belts 8 and 9.

In practice the portion 15 of the belts is in a plane lower than the adjacent side gage X of the frame 10 and the belts 8 and 9 are gripper-spaces of the carrier, whereby to admit of a quick and positive gripping of tobacco-leaves without engaging the belts, the side beam X forming, as it were, a guide,

against which the butt-ends of the stems are placed by the operator on the belt-sections 15. To provide for bringing the leaf-butts at a tangent to the rotary carrier, but in a plane therewith, the belts 8 and 9 are passed upward at an angle of about forty-five degrees and over a guide-roll 25. The two portions 80 and 90 of the belt are'passed over a'series of guide-rollers 16, arranged in an arc form, whereby to create constant tension of the top orinclined portions of the gripper-belts, while the portions 80* and 90, which pass down close to the grip-spaces of the carrier, are held in tight frictional contact by a presser-plate 18, slightly concaved on its outer surface, to main- .tain sufficient pressure to prevent the .body of the leaf from deflecting the butt of the stem before it has been closed upon by the clamps on the rotary carrier.

20 indicates an upwardly-inclined tablesection which forms a support and guide for the body portion of the leaves as they are drawn upward over the roller 25, (which roller is extended to form a guide,) said tablesection 20 ending at such end roller 25.

To facilitate the upward travel of the body of the leaf, a supplemental or endless elevating-belt 21 is provided, which passes over the roller 25 and a suitable guide-pulley 22, said belt 21 having spurs or pins 21, whereby to readily engage the leaf, more fully explained hereinafter.

By providing the supplementalinclinedrest or table and the supplemental belt 21 the leaves are positively prevented from bending down by their weight, and the several leaves as they are carried upward to the roller 25 are pulled apart from their adhering or matted condition.

In the practical operation of my improved machine the leaf-bundles are untied by the helper and laid on the table adjacent the operator, who takes a desired quantity of leaves at a time, delivering them in close relation to each other into the gathering or entrant portion 15 of the feed-belts, it being understood that the butts of the stems are held up close against the gage member X. As the butt-ends of the leaves are laid on the gripperbelts they are gathered between said belts and are carried upthe incline over the roller 25, from whence they pass down vertically in a plane with the edge or rim of the rotary carrier, the butt-ends of the leaves during this movement projecting into the space between the solid part of the rim and the open clamp members, and carried therein, which clamps, when the leaves reach a point near the end of the coacting portions 80 90, firmly close on the stem-butts, and as the leaves are released from engagement with the belts the carrier draws them toward and through the wiper or stripper belts, thus separating the leaf from the stem, as desired. To hold the leaves in a proper position to engage with the rim of the carrier as they are pulled over the roller 25, a guide-plate 23 is provided, as shown in Fig. 1, which prevents the displacement of the leaf-butts before the same hasbeen caught by the feed-wheel mechanism.

While I prefer to arrange the feed-belt mechanism as shown, for the reason that it provides for convenient handling of the leaves by the operator and very speedy delivery of the said leaves to the feed-belts, I do not limit myself to such exact construction of the belts, as the said construction may be readily modified or changed without departing from the gist of my invention, which lies in the feeding of the leaf to the rotary carrier by passing the stem-butts tangentially to the rim and in a plane with the carrier.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

- 1. In atobacco-stemming machine; in combination with coacting wiping-surfaces and a rotary carrier adapted to convey the leaf to and draw it through the wipers, said carrier having gripping portions toengage the buttend of the tobacco-leaves; a continuouslytraveling feed mechanism adapted to grip the body of the leaf and convey the stem-butts in position to be engaged by the gripping portions of the carrier.

2. In combination with the coactingwipingsurfaces and a rotary carrier adapted to con vey the leaf to and draw it between the said wiping-surfaces, said carrier having annularly arranged automatically operating gripper portions at its perimeter; of a belt-feed having coacting clamping-surfaces, whereby to engage the leaf, said belts traveling in close relation to the edge of the carrier,whereby to project the stem-butts into the path of the clamping portions of the carrier, as specified.

3. In a machine of the character described; the combination with the rotary carrier havin g a continuous series of annularly-arranged clamp or gripper members and means for automatically opening and closing the same at predetermined intervals; of a feed mechanism continuously movable at a tangent to and adjacent the carrier-rim, said feed mechanism comprising devices for frictionally gripping the body of" the leaf and conveying the stem-butt between the gripping-surfaces of the carrier.

4:. In combination with a rotary carrier, having a continuous series of annularly-disposed gripper members at its rim and means for automatically opening them as they approach the entrant or feed end of the carrier and closing them as they approach the wiping or stripping devices; of a leaf-feed comprising means for f rictioually gripping the body of the leaf, said means being movable adjacent to and at a tangent to the carrier, whereby to project the stem-butts into the gripping-surfaces of the said carrier anddevices for maintaining the feeding meansin a V clamping position whereby to hold the leaves until their stems have been gripped by the carrier-clamps as specified.

5. The combination with the coacting wipsubstantially as shown and for the purposes described.

6. In a tobacco-stemming machine of the character described; the combination with the wiping mechanism and the rotary carrier, said carrier having annularly-disposed clamping members, and means for automatically opening and closing the same at predeter-' mined intervals; of a leaf-feed mechanism comprising a pair of endless belts movable in the plane of movement of the rotary carrier, said belts having coacting gripping-surfaces traveling in an inclined plane and a second set of coacting gripping-surfaces traveling in close relation toand in a plane with the edge of the rotary carrier, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

7. In a tobacco-stemming machine as described; the combination with the wiping mechanism and the rotary carrier, said carrier having annularly-arranged clamps and means for continuously opening and closing them; of a feed mechanism comprising a pair of endless belts traveling in the plane of the rotation of the carrier, said belts having coacting pressure-surfaces adapted to engage the body of the leaf and convey it toward the carrier and also havingaportion of such sur faces movable in a plane with the edges of the carrier and in close relation thereto,whereby to project the stems into the clampingspace, the lowermost one of said belts being extended to form a moving support to the entrant or receiving throat for the leaves, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

8. In a tobacco-leaf-stemming machine of the character described; the combination of a rotary carrier having clamping mechanism as shown; of a supporting-frame including the guide-beam X, said frame carrying a platform and an inclined guideway; a pair of endless belts having coacting portions traveling in a plane with the inclined guideway, and similar coacting portions traveling in the plane of the edge of the carrier and in close relation thereto, the undermost belt having a portion extended forwardly in the plane below the upper edge of the frame portion X, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

' ALPHONSO ROSS ALLISON.

Witnesses:

J. H. MOGHEE, H. E. MATTHEWS. 

